|
Aug. 26.
Custom
House. |
1,198. Secretary of Customs to the Secretary of the Treasury. Forwarding a presentment for obtaining a squadron of ships to secure the return of the Plantation ships homeward. Signed, Jno. Sansom. ¼ p. [Colonial Papers, Vol. LXV., No. 90.] |
Aug. 26.
Custom
House. |
1,199. Commissioners of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury. About September next large fleets are expected from Virginia and other Plantations, the safety of which is most important to the kingdom, not only in respect to the customs that they will pay and the seamen that they will bring home, but in regard to the estates of the merchants concerned. We beg that a competent squadron of men-of-war may be ordered to the Westward of Scilly to secure their arrival. Signed, Hen. Guy, G. Boothe, Jo. Werden, Robt. Clayton. ½ p. Endorsed, Read at the Council of Trade, 4 Sept., 1690. [Colonial Papers, Vol. LXV., No. 91.] |
Aug. 26.
Admiralty. |
1,200. Lords of the Admiralty to Lords of Trade and Plantations. In reply to yours of 22nd inst. we have sent no orders to the Commander-in-Chief of the West Indian squadron since it left England, having received no letters from him. It was victualled for eight months when it sailed, which it is supposed, by putting the men on short allowance, will last for twelve months. We have ordered six months' additional victuals to be sent to the West Indies with all speed, but we cannot tell you when this supply will be ready to sail. Signed, Tho. Lee, J. Lowther. ¾ p. Endorsed, To Cabinet Council about this and about the scheme for seamen. [Colonial Papers, Vol. LXVI., No. 1.] |
Aug. 27.
Admiralty. |
1,201. J Sotherne to William Blathwayt. Already abstracted in a previous volume of this Calendar, 1689–1692. No. 1039. ¾ p. [Colonial Papers, Vol. LXVI., No. 2.] |
| Aug. 28. |
1,202. Reasons for imposing an embargo until Michaelmas, 1691. (1) The prosperity of the nation depends upon the success of the Royal Navy manned by the best seamen, and late experience has shown that such men cannot be obtained while trade is indulged as at present. (2) So long as trade is tolerated it will be impossible to obtain good seamen, for masters allow their men to abscond, giving them fifty shillings and three pounds a month, to enable them to evade the press. (3) The suspension of trade during the period recommended would turn trade into its due channel, and weaken our enemies, who will make it their whole business to privateer, thus increasing their gains and augmenting the number of their seamen. (4) Nothing but a general embargo on all ports can prevent this mischief, for, no matter what the hazard, merchants will send abroad ships to the parts with which they trade, and thus our enemies gain supplies, for the merchants in London, hearing of the despatch of these vessels, emulate them by sending their vessels also. (5) The suspension of trade at this time will be of no prejudice to the merchants nor to the inhabitants of the Colonies, for the latter were supplied by the merchants last spring, and the merchants have not yet bought their goods and fitted their ships, as last year, when this was the cause for their begging for liberty to trade. (6) Many mischiefs and inconveniences would be prevented by such an embargo. We beg also that a squadron may be sent in September to bring in the fleets from Virginia and the West Indies, some two hundred sail. 1½ large pp. Endorsed, given my Ld. President by some Virginia Merchants. 28 Aug., 1690. [Colonial Papers, Vol. XLVI., No. 3.] |
